James Weidman is a member of the Grammy Nominated Joe Lovano Band (w/ Esperenza Spalding), Producer,

Pianist: James Weidman

Bandleader and former Abbey Lincoln and Steve Coleman sidesman and served as a member of the roving cultural Ambassadors for the U.S. State Department with: Alvin Queen, Sax player the late Khaliq O’Rouff and bassist Rocky Middleton. Professor at the prestigious William Patterson University and also an all around New York Jazz Piano Monster.

From the moment James Weidman sits down at his magical keyboards, he commands your attention. With professional credits literally running the gamut of modern Jazz expression, it is no wonder that critics the world-wide have hailed the musicianship of James as refined, mysterious, earthy, powerful and downright mesmerizing.

James Weidman has, for the last three years, been the pianist and Musical Director for famed vocalist Kevin Mahogany. Kevin not only utilizes James’ arranging skills, compositions and performance magic, but they have forged a sound that is being touted as the reason that male vocalists’ popularity has returned to Jazz. Critics have noted that the “sensitivity and level of play in this collaboration often brings the audience to the ‘edge of the edge’ waiting for the pin to drop.”

James Weidman has been a welcomed presence on myriad bandstands, including the world’s major venues and festivals; just a partial listing includes the Montreux, Monterey, Newport, North Sea and JVC Jazz Festivals, Carnegie Hall, Birdland, Blue Note, Sweet Basil, Village Vanguard, Iridium and Jazz Standard.

GREG OSBY ( Composer, Producer, Educator & Bandleader)Saxophonist Greg Osby graduated from the Berklee School of Music, he settled in New York City and went on to

GREG OSBY ( Composer, Producer, Educator & Bandleader)

play behind Herbie Hancock, Jack DeJohnette, Andrew Hill, and Muhal Richard Abrams; during the mid-’80s, Osby also served alongside Steve Coleman, Geri Allen, Gary Thomas, and Cassandra Wilson as a member of the renowned M-Base Collective.

Making his solo debut with 1987’s Sound Theatre, Osby went on to record several sets for the JMT label, also earning notice for his impressive contributions to Hill’s 1989 date, Eternal Spirit, and its follow-up But Not Farewell; with 1990’s Man-Talk for Moderns, Vol. X, he cut his first headling session for Blue Note, with subsequent efforts for the company (including 1993’s 3-D Lifestyles and 1995’s Black Book), pioneering a distinctive fusion of jazz and hip-hop.

While 1996’s Art Forum captured the saxophonist in an acoustic setting, Osby continues exploring new avenues with each successive release, capturing the improvisational intensity of his live dates with 1999’s Banned in New York and reuniting with Hill and fellow elder statesman Jim Hill for the following year’s The Invisible Hand. 2001’s Symbols of Light (A Solution) was a varied effort that witnessed him teaming with a string quartet, while the next year’s Inner Circle was an older recording of sessions that featured a knockout version of Bjork’s “All Neon Like.”

Osby teamed with pianist Marc Copland for 2003’s Round and Round, while St. Louis Shoes was released that same year on Blue Note. Also released on Blue Note was 2005’s Channel Three, which saw Osby working with drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts and bassist Matt Brewer. In 2008, Osby released 9 Levels, his first recording on his own Inner Circle Music label.

JEROME JENNINGS “Every sound, every moment of silence, has a purpose. You cannot hear him and not feel the

Drummer: Jerome Jennings

intensity behind his playing. The rhythm talks to you and, the conversation between sound and emotion has always been the best recipe for good music, with Jerome Jennings you get both.”

Mr. Jones has performed on Broadway with “Bring ‘N Da Noise, Bring ‘N Da Funk (including the first national tour), “Aint Nothin’ But The Blues” and “All Shook Up”. Touring and performing has taken Mr. Jones to some 31 countries and 43 of the 50 U.S. states.

2. GYEDY BLAY AMBOLLEY & his SEKONDI BAND
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, affectionately known as the “Simigwa Do Man”, The multi-talented, International, Ghanaian

Gyedu-Blay Ambolley

Musician, celebrated his “Silver Jubilee” in music in 1998. This versatile, irrepressible singer, songwriter, producer and “musical-life-force” exploded on the music scene twenty-five years ago with a jazzy highlife sounds called ‘SIMIGWA-DO’.

Ambolley’s name has become synonymous with Simigwa music and dance scene, his first hit single was released in 1973. Since that hit, he has lead many bands including his own in 1979-80. The band leaders’ talent was not limited to Ghana. Ambolley was invited to London where he performed to “standing room only” crowds. Having experienced success in his own country, as well as London, it was time for the ambitious musician to test his musical abilities elsewhere. In 1988, Ambolley left Ghana and arrived in New York (U.S.A.).

Ambolley’s performance career is extensive. He has toured throughout West Afrika, Europe, Canada, and the United States. He has performed on the same stage with some of the worlds most celebrated artists, such as Miriam Makeba of South Afrika, the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti of Nigeria, the late George Howard,Angela Bofill, Norman Connors, Manu DeBango, Lakeside, Chikuzan Takahashi of Japan, Ricardo Estrada of Cuba, Mayuto Correa of Brazil and toured Ghana with Oscar Brashear and Michael Session. Because of his originality, his performances have left audiences raving and shouting for more, as was the case at the world famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. He has played the House of Blues in Hollywood, is a frequent performer at the Jazz Bakery in California and has played to “standing room only” crowds in London, England.

3. CONSTANT BOTY Trio +2 (Sonic Compass Project)Constant “Hiram”Boty, is one of the most successful musical Geniuses of his generation here in West Africa.

Constant “Hiram”Boty

Incredible Guitarist, Constant “Hiram”Boty can tune his musical talent to any performance contest to entertain his audience with his unique approach to Jazz, Blues, no matter what size of audience. Constant Hiram Boty has toured and organized shows, concerts, workshops with some of the top musicians in the world. Like Oran Etkin, James Weidman, Poogie Bell and Cameroonian Jazz Vocalist and Guitarist Armand Ntep.

With his band ‘The Sonic Compass’ having the young experienced and gifted Ghanaian PK Ambrose is a young experience bass player who has performed and recorded for some of the top artist in the Ghanaian music industry and aboard. He is also the musical director and co producer of the Constant Boty trio +2 sonic compass band also as bassist to lay down a strong groove, incorporating some Jazzy & funky stuffs to their repertoire. Prince Larbi, the incredible fusion drummer who is also a credit to the band, wowing his audience in different genres of music and presentation.

Trumpeter Emmanuel Adjei , another in demand young trumpeter for his versatility to play different kind of ideas due to his background in playing in many contests and forms. Icing on the cake with this band is the master Congolese Jazz Pianist and Educator Cyrille Mak who recently joined the band and will be directing the band displaying his awesome energies of musical wizardry. Everything is thus set to present a once in a lifetime show by all these musicians as ‘’The Constant Boty Sonic Compass Band’’.

*1 Workshop
With James Weidman; Constant Boty Trio
Theme: Music Business improvisation in Jazz and Contemporary Music Date: 23rd April 2015
Time: 2pm
Venue: Music Department; University Of Cape Coast, Ghana